Families raising children with FASD and autism in Ontario

Abstract

The current document is a two-paper manuscript-based thesis investigating the experiences of parents raising children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Ontario, Canada. Supports are available in Ontario for families of children with disabilities. However, many parents report that they are not adequately meeting their needs. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to determine what supports parents believe they require to help facilitate adaptation. Both papers used mixed methods, including a qualitative analysis of semi structured interviews and a descriptive statistical analysis of their respective questionnaires. The first paper examined the experiences of parents of adopted adult children with FASD and their needs as they adapted to their children’s transition into adulthood. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to analyze the interviews, and the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress- Friedrich’s Version (QRS-F) was examined. Parents described a number of stressors related to their children’s transition to adulthood and reported moderate levels of perceived stress. The second paper examined parents’ formal and informal support needs as they adapted to raising their middle childhood aged children with ASD and FASD. Thematic analysis was used analyze to the interviews, and the Family Resource Scale as well as the Family Crisis Oriented Personal Scales were administered. Results indicated that there are not enough services to satisfy family needs. Implications for clinical interventions are discussed.